Our skin is nothing but a protective shell for our body, and it protects us from numerous toxic things like harmful chemicals, UV rays, and various cuts and scrapes. As a result of these factors, the skin often changes its texture and color, and at times rashes may also appear. Usually, skin inflammation causes these rashes, and there are numerous reasons behind this inflammation. You can see different patterns of skin rashes in conditions like granuloma annulare, eczema, pityriasis rosea, lichen planus, acne, razor burns, and so on. The article below highlights the different types of skin rashes and their treatments. Acne Acne is perhaps the most common problem that people face. Numerous factors lead to irritating red bumps on your skin. Heavy sweating, stress, humidity or consuming steroids can lead to skin rashes. Even if you maintain perfect personal hygiene, you may get acne because of washing your face too often. If you are facing this problem in your daily life, you should consult a general physician or a dermatologist to identify the underlying issue and cure it. You can also find numerous home remedies to deal with acne. Razor burn Men usually face this problem along with redness, blisters, and rashes due to shaving. To prevent this problem, you should be careful while shaving your face. You should wash your face with warm water and use sharp and clean blades. Nowadays, you can find different shaving gels and other lubricants which can help prevent these rashes. Moreover, you can also use aloe vera-based soothing lotions to soothe the skin and treat any skin rashes. Sunburn UV radiation could affect our skin and lead to rashes. Melanin protects our skin from UV radiation. You can take adequate precautions like using hats, sunglasses, and sunscreen, but the lack of vitamin E can result in painful sunburns.

Diabetes can take a toll on every organ of your body if not controlled. Diabetic foot pain is one of the complications of severe, uncontrolled diabetes. First, diabetes restricts the blood flow to your feet, which then deprives them of nutrients and oxygen. The second complication is numbness of feet due to peripheral neuropathy caused by diabetes. Diabetic foot pain or sores, when left untreated, may even lead to amputation of the limb. Diabetic foot pain treatments are based on the severity of the condition and the causes. It is important to discuss diabetic foot pain and sores with your doctor in order to ensure it does not lead to serious complications. Most diabetics develop foot pain and ulcers, but good foot care measures can help prevent serious complications. What causes diabetic foot pain? Diabetic foot sores commonly occur under big toes and the balls of your feet. They are caused due to the breaking of skin tissue and exposure of layers underneath. Severe sores may even affect the bones of your feet. Infected foot sores may even lead to amputation of your feet. First signs of foot sores are drainage from your feet, unusual swelling, redness or irritation, and bad odor from one or both feet. Diabetic foot pain and ulcers are mainly caused due to a lack of healthy blood flow to the feet. This blocked blood flow results in the formation of a black tissue that surrounds the ulcer. Diabetic foot pain is usually caused due to the following. Poor blood flow – Poor blood flow is a vascular disorder that makes it difficult for wounds or ulcers to heal. High blood sugar – Hyperglycemia or high sugar levels hamper the healing of an infected foot ulcer. People with type 2 diabetes find it extremely difficult to manage infected ulcers.

It is important to understand the blood pressure range and ideal blood pressure as per age to keep a track of your health. Your heart beats and pumps oxygen and blood to the organs. The pressure with which it pushes against the vessels is called blood pressure. High blood pressure can be an early sign of a major disease such as heart attack or stroke. It is very important to gain a basic understanding of a normal range of blood pressure. It also helps in taking preventive measures and keeping diseases at bay. Here is the blood pressure chart as per different ages, with readings that you can refer to. Everyone, between the age of 17 years and 60 years, as well as those who are above 60 years, should show the following readings if their pressure is normal: Low systolic – It should be less than 90 Low diastolic – It should be less than 60 Normal systolic – It should be less than 120 Normal diastolic – It should be less than 80 Elevated systolic – It should range between 120 and 129 Elevated diastolic – It should be less than 80 The blood pressure readings will naturally be a little different in the case of hypertension. Stage 1 – Systolic is between 130 and 139, while diastolic is between 80 and 89. Stage 2 – Systolic is above 140 in this case, and diastolic is above 90. Understanding blood pressure measurements You can read the blood pressure by understanding the two numbers i.e., systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure. The systolic blood pressure measures the pressure on the walls of the vessels as your heart contracts and beats. It is recorded as the upper number in your blood pressure reading. On the other hand, diastolic blood pressure is the pressure applied to the walls of the vessels when the heart is relaxing.

Foot drop or drop foot is a condition where your leg or calf muscles weaken either due to paralysis, or a serious injury. This affects your stride and causes you to drag your foot while walking because of your inability to lift it up. But there are ways you can avoid yourself from dragging your feet. Read further to understand how you can treat drop foot. What Is Drop Foot? As mentioned above, drop foot leads to difficulty in moving your feet. This is the result of an injury or paralysis and is not actually a disease. The simplest way to diagnose this condition is by trying to walk on your heels. If you find this to be difficult, you may have drop foot. Most commonly, a condition in your lower back affects your nerves that connect to your leg muscles and lead to a drop foot. Foot Drop Characteristics While it looks simple and straightforward, foot drop is actually a complex condition. Sometimes it can cure on its own, other times, it might require a detailed surgery. If you have a herniated disk in your back bone that results in drop foot, curing this can cure drop foot as well. But if you have consistent issues with the muscles that are attached to these nerves, then the drop foot will persist. Sometimes, you can be affected by this condition even without any other signs or symptoms beforehand. The dropped foot will be the only symptom and you’ll feel pain or a tingling or a burning sensation along with the drop foot. Foot drop causes lack or complete loss of balance while walking, making you unable to walk without assistance. Both your feet are equally prone to being affected by this condition. Foot Drop Treatment: Drop Foot Braces Drop foot treatment depends on the underlying cause that leads to this condition.

Also known as nocturnal hyperhidrosis, night sweats is a condition where a person experiences an unusually high level of perspiration while asleep. Normally, it is not a serious cause for concern, but in a significant number of cases, night sweats can be a sign of an alarming health condition. The best way to recognize the condition of night sweats is by associating it with your room temperature. For instance, the reason for sweating profusely can be high room temperature or several layers of clothing and sheets. In such a case, you don’t have anything to worry, as you can simply adjust these external factors to sleep comfortably. However, it’s time to see a doctor if external influences are not the causes of night sweats. What are the different night sweats causes? To gain an effective solution for nocturnal hyperhidrosis, you must immediately see a general practitioner. This is because there are several causes of night sweats, so each one will have a different treatment approach. To enlighten you a bit more about this condition, here are some common night sweats causes that you must know about. Menopause – One of the most common night sweats causes in women, menopause significantly affects the hormonal levels in the body. In this condition, the estrogen levels suddenly fall affecting the hypothalamus (a part of the brain that controls the body temperature). The hypothalamus detects the increasing heat in the body, and to reinstate the balance, it prompts the sweat glands. This helps the body to cool off. To minimize the frequency of night sweats during periods, you can use breathing techniques and exercise daily. Doctors can prescribe you with drugs and in extreme cases hormonal therapy. Infections – Like menopause, infections too are a prevalent cause of night sweats. Mostly, because infections lead to fevers and when it breaks, it’ll cause extreme perspiration.

Shingles rashes are a form of viral infection which leads to the formation of a painful rash. Center for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States of America has found out that one in every three people in the country will eventually develop shingles, once in their lifetime. Varicella-zoster virus is responsible for this viral infection. Incidentally, this is the same virus which is responsible for chickenpox formation. Shingles virus lies in the dormant stage in people who have suffered from chickenpox during their childhood years. This virus can get reactivated and cause the development of shingles rash in a person. This rash can develop in any part of the body but usually affects small areas only. The first symptom of the development of shingles rash is an evolution of a mild pain. Fever, sensitivity to light and development of fatigue are also some signs that shingles rash is on the way. Shingles rash treatments are few and doctors usually recommend antiviral medications which reduce the impact of this virus infestation. Below are listed some effective and natural shingles rash treatments. Bath which heals If the blisters are cleared on a daily basis, it reduces the chances of this infection from spreading further. The person affected from shingles rash should take a shower bath which will help in soothing the skin. This cool effect of the water will calm down the itching and will prevent the development of further blisters. Use of cool compress A cool and moist compress can also be applied in the area where shingles development has taken place. Doing this multiple times in a day will definitely help in reducing the incidence of itching and will relieve the symptoms of the shingles rash. This is one of the effective shingles rash treatments. Alternatively, a cloth soaked in cold water can also be applied on the rash and blisters.

Pristiq antidepressant, also known as desvenlafaxine, belongs to a group of drugs called selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). Pristiq antidepressant is known to increase the serotonin and norepinephrine activity in the brain, thus regulating mood and helping people dealing with constant mood swings and depression. Prescribed to treat serious depressive conditions, Pristiq antidepressant should not be had if an individual is being already treated with either linezolid or methylene blue injection. It is best not to have Pristiq antidepressants 7 days before or 14 days after having had an MAO inhibitor, like methylene blue injection, isocarboxazid, linezolid, rasagiline, phenelzine, tranylcypromine, or selegiline. People starting a course of antidepressants may experience suicidal thoughts about suicide. What is important here is to be consciously aware of the mood shifts and report it to the doctor in order to get better medical help. Pristiq antidepressants should not be had if you are sensitive to desvenlafaxine or venlafaxine (Effexor). There are certain medications that have been observed to negatively interact with Pristiq antidepressants and can lead to a serious condition known as serotonin syndrome. It is best to be clear of the medications that you are taking and give a full note to your doctor if in case you are taking herbal products, opioid medicine, or other medication for depression or any other mental illnesses. Following are the points that should be clearly conveyed to your doctor or physician before starting Pristiq antidepressant. To be sure that Pristiq is safe for you, tell your specialist if you have ever had: – Heart disease, heart stroke, and/or high cholesterol levels – High blood pressure – Bipolar disorder (also termed as manic depression) – Depression – Suicidal thoughts – Liver or kidney disease – Glaucoma – Seizures or epilepsy – A bleeding or blood clotting disorder – Low sodium levels in the blood Women who are expecting and are in their third trimester should avoid taking Pristiq antidepressants as these cause problems in a newborn baby.

So that moment of the year is near when a runny nose, watery eyes or sneezing are returning to make your life uncomfortable. Avoiding such allergic things are necessary, but in case of serious issues, medicines are imperative. If you look around for top allergy medications, there are tablets or pills, liquids, nasal sprays, inhalers and even skin creams as well as injections available in the market. While some medicines can be bought over-the-counter, some are exclusively available by doctor’s prescription only. There are certain divisions among the allergy medications, knowing these can be of great help at the time of need. Antihistamines Allergy is caused by histamine which is resulted by body’s immune system as a reaction to the allergic products. Antihistamine medicines block histamine and give relief to the patient. These are available in pills, liquids, sprays and eye drops. Pills/liquids If you’re suffering from watery eyes, runny nose, swelling or some other sorts of signs of allergies, oral antihistamines are good for you. These are available as over-the-counter (OTC) drugs. Some medicines are sedatives and cause drowsiness, so it’s important to take great care if you’re going to drive. Nowadays second-generation antihistamines are more popular than older antihistamines like Benadryl or Diphenhydramine, Chlorpheniramine because of their less-sedative features. Although overdosages of even these medications like Cetirizine, Desloratadine, Fexofenadine or Levocetirizine can cause drowsiness. Nasal sprays If you’re suffering from sneezing or a runny nose, blocked sinus or postnasal drip, nasal sprays can be useful. In terms of side effects, overdosage can lead to addiction and sometimes may include bitterness in tastes, sedation, and tiredness. Among prescribed ones which are used as top allergy medications, Azelastine and Olopatadine are good. Eye drops There are antihistamine eye drops which are available as OTC drop can be helpful for getting relief from red or swollen eye or watery eyes.

What is psoriasis? It is a completely irritating and unpredictable disease. You can also describe it as one of the most persistent skin disorders, and the main characteristics of this disease is that skin cells multiply up to 10 times faster than normal. Since the underlying cells that get onto the surface of the skin die, you experience an extreme hike in their volume and the red plaques get covered with white scales. The most vulnerable areas for psoriasis are the scalp, elbows, and knees. You can also find them in the sole, palms, and torso. A large number of people are always on the quest for authentic information about psoriasis. Leading psoriasis symptoms Psoriasis patients often have to deal with red skin plaques, and they are covered with silver-colored, loose scales. The lesions become excessively itchy, and you have to deal with a lot of pain. Cracking and bleeding sometimes occur in the lesions, with chronic conditions, the plaques grow fast and even merge into one another. It may get spread into large areas as well. Toe and fingernail disorders such as nail pitting and discoloration are also symptoms of psoriasis; moreover, with the passage of time, the nails may crumble or detach from the nail bed. People who suffer from this condition often have plaques of scales on their scalp. Psoriasis can be linked to psoriatic arthritis, which results in swelling and pain in the joints. Various research studies show that 10% to 30% of people suffering from psoriasis also face psoriatic arthritis-related problems. Psoriasis can be described into different categories. Pustular psoriasis The most prominent characteristics of this skin condition are scaly and red skin on the hands or palms. They may even appear on the feet with small pustules. Guttate psoriasis This form of psoriasis often begins in young adulthood or even in childhood.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a painful disease that can result in permanent damage to joints. In order to prevent this, doctors and rheumatologists prescribe each patient for a rheumatoid arthritis treatment regimen that consists of various types of drugs, combined with physical therapy. Rheumatoid arthritis Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder. In an autoimmune disorder, the immune system mistakes a body part as an invasive organism and damages it. In RA, the immune system perceives the lining tissue in the joints called synovium as a threat and attacks it. The synovium not only provides a protective covering but also produces a fluid that keeps the joints lubricated, enabling them to move freely. RA attacks the synovium, causing inflammation and ultimately damaging this tissue. If left untreated, the damage to the synovium could affect the cartilage and bones in the joint. And so, it becomes imperative to detect the disease and make sure that it does not progress rapidly. There is, as of now, no cure for Rheumatoid Arthritis. Yet, there are ways to prevent inflammation, pain and to slow down the disease and keep it in remission. Rheumatoid arthritis treatments Rheumatoid arthritis treatments involve reducing pain, controlling inflammation, preventing the disease from progressing further or slowing it down, and putting the symptoms in remission. The rheumatoid arthritis treatment starts with painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs, to drugs that modify the course of the disease, and lets the patient enter long periods of remission (periods when there are no signs or symptoms of RA). Analgesics and NSAIDs Doctors first prescribe analgesics and Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) to control pain and swelling. Over-the-counter NSAIDs like Ibuprofen as well as stronger prescription drugs might be advised. If the patient is at risk for a stomach ulcer, alternative NSAIDs called COX-2 inhibitors can be prescribed.

Nail fungus is a common condition that begins as a white or yellow spot under the tip of your fingernail or toenail. As the fungal infection goes deeper, it may cause your nail to discolor, thicken and crumble at the edge. It can affect several nails. There’s a lot about nail fungus on the Internet. However, the article focuses on how to cure nail fungus. Before delving into how you can cure nail fungus, it’s essential to analyze what causes this nail attack. Causes of fungus Just as the term suggests, nail fungus related infections are the result of the infestation of microorganisms called fungi on your nails. There’s this particular family of fungi by the name of dermatophyte which has a significant stake in the nail attack mafia organization. Age is a detrimental factor of nail fungus too. As the nails on your hands or feet age with time, they are prone to dry and become brittle; paving the way for fungi to enter your nails. In other cases, poor blood circulation in feet, and a weak immune system could be possible reasons for nail fungus. However, it is important to know the symptoms before knowing how to cure nail fungus. Symptoms of nail fungus Sudden thickening of nails Visible discoloration (colors include whitish to brownish yellow). Brittle or ragged nails. A dark shade on the surface of your nail as a result of debris built up below the surface of your nails. How to cure nail fungus Visit the dermatologist This is the safest and quickest way to recovery. A professional dermatologist knows about nail fungus way more than most people, and it would be an entirely safe bet to shell out a few bucks and time to visit a dermatologist. If you think your situation isn’t that serious or if you have doctor-phobia, below is a list of home remedies to cure nail fungus.

Type 2 diabetes is a chronic disorder which was earlier referred to as adult-onset or noninsulin-dependent diabetes. It affects the metabolism of glucose or sugar in the body. Glucose is the major source of energy for our body. Currently, in America 29.1 million people have diabetes. However, as large as 8.1 million of them are yet to be diagnosed and are unaware of their disorder. Every year the strength of this group of patients increases by about 1.4 million, becoming one of the most common health issues faced by the entire nation. Insulin is a hormone produced by our body that maintains blood glucose levels by regulating its movement into cells. When having adult type 2 diabetes, our bodies become inefficient in managing the glucose levels in the body. It either produces an inadequate amount of insulin leading to an excess level of glucose, or the body resists the function of insulin. Symptoms and signals Type 2 diabetes, unfortunately, does not manifest early. The symptoms show up slowly; sometimes it takes a few years to realize a diabetic condition. The following are common signs that you should not ignore since they could indicate failing insulin function. High urination frequency Increased appetite or frequently getting hungry Loss of weight Tiredness and fatigue Vision blurring Incurring frequent infections Sores taking long time to heal Skin darkening Treating Adult Type 2 Diabetes Blood sugar levels can be kept in check with regular monitoring and controlled diet. Although, in case of severely high blood sugar levels, medication and therapy involving insulin injections are required. Consult your doctor for understanding what is the best-suited medication for your condition is. Most common treatment options for adult type 2 diabetes have been listed below. Sulfonylureas Sulfonylureas stimulate the pancreas leading to better insulin secretion. Most common side effects of this drug are weight gain and low blood glucose.